South East Queensland

Summary

Boarding NSW and the pacific Ocean, it is not uncommon for hikes to have views of both worlds (ocean and hinterland). Hikes here are typically on the great dividing range.

Popular Walks

History

Any interesting history for the region?

Features

What are the standout bushwalking features?

Access

How do you get there? Include all access points if there are many?

Maps

Which maps cover the region?

Accommodation

Where can I stay there? or near there?

Camping

Council Areas:

  1. Scenic Rim Regional
  2. Gold Coast City
  3. Logan City
  4. Redland City
  5. Ipswich City
  6. Lockyer Valley Regional
  7. Brisbane City
  8. Somerset Regional
  9. Moreton Bay Regional
  10. Sunshine Coast Regional
  11. Noosa Shire

Contact details

See Qld National parks website

Medium
8 km return
3.5 hrs

Paddy's Peak

A reasonably straight forward walk up a lesser known peak nestled between Mt Barney, Mt Maroon and Mt May.

Hard
8 km
3.5 hrs

Upper Portals

Easy navigation but with a steep hill. A 4WD or at the very least a high clearance vehicle is required to make it up the road. It is rough going in 1st gear with a few extended steep/rough stretches.

Medium
2.1 km return
1 hr

Yellow Pinch Summit

Follow a trail all the way to the summit where you will find great views of Mount Barney. Recommend early morning walk. Great walk for those camping for a few days in the National Park or surrounding camping sites and resorts.

Medium
5.2 km return
90 mins

Blue Lake (Kaboora Track)

Walk through banksias, grasstrees and eucalypt on your way to Kaboora/Blue Lake. Pass Tortoise Lagoon on the way to this jewel of the island.

Easy
8.4 km return
2.5 hrs

Dunwich to Brown Lake

A walk from the Dunwich to the Brown Lake that mostly follows the road.

Medium
3.2 km one-way
2 hrs

Mount Bippo Penbean

This is a relatively easy track on sand, although the last section up to the top of the viewing platform is quite steep and will get the heart rate up. It provides a good view over the National Park parts of the island and out towards the bay. Apparently on very clear days you can also see to NSW, the Sunshine coast and the Border Ranges. There are lots of banksias and grasstrees. Recommend that people do this in the early morning or late afternoon. Those scared of spiders should avoid as there are lots of spider webs across the pathway and it is difficult to see them in some light.

Signs say to allow 2 hours return. I completed this in 1 hour 35 minutes with a moderate fitness level.

This is pronounced Bib-boo bee-yan, meaning mountainous country in Jandai language (Quandamooka)

Medium
8 km return
3 hrs

Mount Vane (Jarlo Beetle Track)

The Mount Vane walking track on Minjerribah is Straddie’s latest visitor attraction. Recent completion of the track has allowed keen bush walkers to enjoy 360-degree views of Moreton Bay and Quandamooka Country from a lookout atop one of Minjerribah’s highest peaks.

Constructed by Minjerribah’s Traditional Owners, the Quandamooka People, the new walk joins two existing walks within Naree Budjong Djara (My Mother Earth) National Park to create a 10 kilometre network of trails. This offers walkers a half day of trekking to special sights like Karboora (Deep Silent Pool, also known as Blue Lake) and a number of peaks with sweeping views over 18 Mile Swamp to the Gold Coast.

Easy
1.5 km return
45 mins

North Gorge Walk (Point Lookout)

Straddie’s impressive headland walk called the North Gorge walk is located at the north western end of Point Lookout and is the best vantage point on the island to watch the whales and marine life pass right before your eyes.
The walk encompasses the best of both worlds, with its raw and jagged headland to one side, and natural bushland on the other. Known for its best viewing experience of migrating humpback whales, the Gorge Walk also has a unique rock formation called the ‘Blow Hole’, similar to that of a humpback whale. The Gorge Walk is a North Stradbroke Island icon and reveals just how pristine and unspoiled the island truly is.
Access to the Gorge Walk is on Moloomba Road at Point Lookout, opposite Fishes Cafe and the Oceanic Gelati Shop.

Medium
400 m return
40 mins

North Stradbroke Island Sand Cliffs

A short walk through some interesting coloured sand cliffs. Follow the path and then go up the gorge on the left hand side up to the maze like area which has views out to the water.

Easy
10 km return
2.5 hrs

Point Lookout to Keyholes

Start from Point Lookout and walk southward down the beach till a sign in the dunes where you head in land for about 100m to the keyholes. Then head back to Point Lookout same way.
Look out for 4WDs